Shoe



Nov 7, 1944. HUFF 2,362,010'

SHOE

Filed Dec. 15, 1942 506/7 .a fi l/ff Patented Nov. 7, 1944 UNITED ST TESPATENT OFFICE' sHoE Basil D. Huff, New York, NyY., assignorto Edna S.Payne, New York, N.` Y. i

` Application December 15,1942, Serial No, 69,06;

1\ 4 Claims. Cl. :e-2.5)

This invention relates to a multi-purpose shoe for feminine Wear.

Under present circumstances, it is difficult, if`

not impossible, to obtain Various materials commonly used during normaltimes in shoe making; `Furthermore, it is economicall desirable, andindeed highly practicable under these cir- V cumstances, to makeavailable footwear which' not only amply protects and supports the foot,but which also has aesthetic appeal. Accordingly, it is desirable toprovide a ladies"shoe Which is not only amenable to her financialcapacity, but also to `her feminine vanity.` It is accordingly an objectof my invention to provide a ladies' shoe which has not only combinedutilitarian and aesthetic qualities, but also makes it possible for thelady to obtain a multi-purpose shoe by one purchase. my invention toprovide a shoe construction` enabling the manufacturer or retailerthereof` to reduce materially the number of sizes `of shoe Which hewould otherwise have to make or stock and render fitting Of'the Wearer'sfoot a rela-` tively easy matter: Other objects will be in part apparentand in part pointed out hereinafter.`

` The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will beexemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scopeof the application of which will be indicated in the following Claims. jn l l In the drawing, wherein I have shown one embodiment of my'inVention,

Figure 1 is a perspective of my shoe; and Figure 2 is a View partly insection of my shoe. similar reference Characters refer to similar partsthroughout the various views of the drawmg. k

In general the shoe shown in Figure 1 comprises a toe or vamp unitgenerally indicated at HJ, and a heel-counter unit generally indicatedat l l, which may be adjustably attached together by a tongue and tapegenerally indicated at l2. More particularly, vamp IO comprises a sole|3 on opposite "edges of which are attached sides [4 and [5 whichpreierably terminate at edges IB and ll, respectively. These edges maybe adjustably secured as by a tie or lace |8 threaded through suitableholes in sides 14 and l5. Thus,

It is a further object of the Width of vamp IO may be adjusted inaccordance with the Width of the wearer's foot, and accordingly obviatethe necessity of the retailer's carrying a plurality of difierent shoewidths. If desired, however, vamp sides ]4 and [5 `may be permanentlyjoined at their edges IE and l'l.

The heel-counter unit Il preferabl comprises a rigid heel is of theso-called 'wedge" type, the heel preferably being of substantial heightand extending well beneath the wearers instep, So as to provide amplesupport to the wearer s arch. Heel Is is formed ora Water-proof orwater-resistant material and acCordingly-may be made of'wood, Cork orany suitable composition. To the opposite edges of heel IB and, ifdesired, centrally thereof are attached sides 20 and 2| joined by a heelstrap 22, and terminating in forward ears 23 and 24 having respectivelyholes 25 and 26 formed therein. If desired, heel strap 22 may be Severedat a `central point (not shown) and a suitable lacing or tie provided toConnect the severed ends of the `strap so as to provide a heel Widthadjustment.

As is better shown in Figure 2, heel I9 of the heel-counter unitll is`provided With a groove or slot 21 formed between side portions 28 and 29(Figure l) of the heel. These heel side portions 28 and 29 arepreferably provided with holes h 30 and 3l, respectively (see alsoFigure 2), through which a lace or tie 32 may be threaded for a purposeto bedisclosed hereinafter.

AS shown in Figure 2; the sole [3 of vamp ID is preferably provided witha tongue or loop 33 adapted to be inserted in groove 21` and heldtherein by the threading of tie 32 through the bite of the tongue. Itwill thus appear that vamp lll may be secured to heel-counter unit H(Figure 2) by threading tie 32 through the holes in heel sides 28 and 29and through the bite of tongue 33. The tie or lace may then be crossed,if desired, as shown in Figure 1, and threaded through holes 25 and 25in the heel side ears 23 and 24 and tied over the wearer's arch, therebyfirmly securing both units of the shoe to the wearer's foot. It willalso appear that the length of the shoe as a whole may be varied throughan infinite number of sizes within a limited range by the adjustment oftie 32.

It should be noted that because no metal fast asmuch as the heel-counterunit is formed of water-proof, water resistant, or Water repellantmaterial, it may be advantageously worn under such circumstances withoutrisk of danger thereto.

A further advantage inheres in that the heelcounter unit ll may be ofsuch a character as suitable for Wear With vamps of varying design orColor, thus providing a thee or four or indeed five in one shoe suitingmiladys needs throughout the day and evening.

It will thus appear that I have provided a highly utilitarian shoewithout sacrificing the aesthetic qualities vital to feminine footwear.

Furthermore, I have provided in my shoe an any swer to the economicexigencies of the times.

Thus, the several objects hereinabove noted are fulfilled in athoroughly practical and efficient manner.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and asmany changes might be made in the embodiment above set orth, it is to beunderstood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

l. In shoe construction, in combination, a heel-counter unit having arigid heel of Waterresistant material substantialinyheight and extendingfrom the rear of the wearer s foot beneath the wearer's instep so as'toact as a support for the wearer's arch, the 'forward part of saidheel'having side Walls orming a groove therebetween, each of Saidsidewalls having a hole formed therein, a Vampunit separable from saidheel-counter unit and "also =formed of water-re- Sistant material, saidvamp-unit having separable side portions, means for adjustably securingsaid side portions together, a tongue 'ormed in the rear of the sole ofsaid vamp unit and extending therefrom and adapted to be 'disposedbetween' said heel side 'portions within- Said groove, and a tie memberextending through said holes in Said heel ide portions and through thebite of said tongue and adapted to extend'about the Wearer's footwhereby said heel-counter unit and said vamp unit may beadjustablysecured 'together and whereby Said heel-counter unit and saidvamp unit as an entity may be secured `to the wearer's foot.

2. In shoe construction, in combination, a heelcounter unit having ahigh rigid heel and eX- tending from the rear of the wearer's footbeneath the Wearer'S instep to act as a support for the wearer s arch,means forming a groove in that portion of the heel-counter unit whichunderlies the wearer's instep, a vamp unit separable from saidheel-counter unit, a loop extending rear- Wardly from the sole of saidvamp unit and adapted to adjustably fit into said groove in saidheel-counter unit, and flexible means eX- tending through the forwardportion of said heelcounter unit into and through said groove andthrough said loop when it is placed in said groove and adapted to betied about the wearer's foot to secure aid units together and to thewearer's oot.

3. Aheel-counter unit adapted to be worn with or without a vamp unit andcomprising, in combination, a high rigid heel adapted When worn to'extend from the rear of the Wearer's foot andbeneath the Wearer'sinstep so as to act as a support for the wearer's arch, sides secured toand extending upwardly from the side edges of said heel, that portion ofsaid heel adapted to underlie the wearer's arch having a hole extendingtherethrough, a vamp unit having a loop extending therefrom, and a,flexible tape extending through said hole and said loop and adapted tobe secured to said sides for Securing the heelcounter unit and Said vamptogether and to the wearer's foot.

4. In shoe construction, in combination, a heelcounter unit having arigid heel substantial in height and extending from the rear of theWearer's foot beneath the wearer's instep so as to act as a support forthe wearers arch, the forward part of said heel having side wallsforming a groove therebetween, each of said side walls having a holeformed therein, a vamp unit separable from said heel-counter unit, saidvamp unit having separable side portions, means for adjustably-securingsaid side portions together, a tongue ormed in the rear of the sole ofsaid vamp unit and extending therefrom and adapted to be disposedbetween said heel side portions within Said groove, and a tie memberextending through said holes in said heel side portions and through thebite of said tongue and adapted to extend about the Wearer's footwhereby said heelcounter unit and said vamp unit may be adjustablysecured together and whereby said heelcounter unit and Said vamp unit asan entity may be secured to the wearer's foot.

BASIL D. HUFF'.

